Doctors observe strike in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, May 21: Patients had a tough day today as doctors staged a dharna and observed strike in the city against the manhandling of doctors and ransacking of a private hospital here by a patient's relatives and suppoters yesterday.

IMA Local Chapter spokesman Dr Raman Gupta told the sources that nearly 500 doctors affiliated to IMA, NIMA and other association, staged a dharna for over three hours at Civil Hospital. All the OPDs, emegency and other services remained suspended since morning in all the hospitals and no new patient was admitted in any of the hospital, he said.

A patient identified as Paramjit Singh (28) of Nakodar, who was seriously injured in an accident and was admitted in the Doaba Hospital on May 16, died yesterday morning. The relatives and supporters of the patient alleging that the youth died due to medical negligence attacked the doctors present in the hospital and injured senior doctors Dr Ashutosh Gupta and Dr BM Bali and others.

In protest, the doctors yesterday blocked the road for nearly five hours from 0730 hrs onwards and lifted the blockade on the assurance of the administration.

For the safety of the doctors and para-medical staff, the protesters demanded immidiate passing of an ordinance on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh, which has the provision of issuing non-bailable warrants against anybody involve in damaging hospital property or attacking doctors or para-medical staff, he said.

A delegation of doctors went to Chandigarh this mornig to meet Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal to urge him to pass the ordinance at the earliest, Dr Gupta informed.

The doctors also demanded immidiate arrest of ex-councillor Gyan Chand, whom they alleged, had instigated the mob to ransack the hospital and thrash doctors.

Meanwhile, police yesterday registered a case under sections 307 and 452 against Gyan Chand and others and rounded up seven persons in this regard.

UNI